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News‘New life’ for mainlanders as moteliers on the East CoastBy Kasey WilkinsApril 22 2018 - 7:30amBy Kasey WilkinsApril 22 2018 - 7:30amFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyView +4

PhotosPictures: supplied In July 2017, Juliana Thompson and Gary Harbison packed up their lives in Torquay, Victoria, to start a new chapter on the East Coast of Tasmania.

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50% off EOFY SaleAll articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperCrosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll other regional websites in your areaContinue In Torquay, Ms Thompson

struggled to find work and Mr Harbison was bored with installing phone systems. So, the two decided to try something different.

With Ms Thompson’s experience in hospitality and Mr Harbison able to “build, fix, or mend anything”, they decided to buy a motel.

Ms Thompson said Mr Harbison started trolling commercial real estate sites to find the ideal property.

“We looked at several places and considered location, climate and tourist possibilities,” Ms Thompson said.

“After searching for 12 months we decided on [the Anchor Wheel Motel] and some months later came to Tassie on a long weekend to take a good look.

“We bought it cheap and now we are fixing it up, all the while welcoming guests everyday.

“A typical day involves guest departures from 7.30am to 9am, then we strip rooms and re-make them ready for the new arrivals.

“This process usually takes us to about 12.30pm … then we await our new guest arrivals from 2pm to 7pm.  

“During the arrival time, we may get some special requests from guests, such as an extra towel or maybe extra milk, but usually our time is our own by about 7pm in the evening when we can

finally put our feet up.”

Ms Thompson said since moving to St Helens they had “experienced amazing weather.”

“[We’re] still wondering why folks on the mainland always say that Tassie is so cold,” she said.

The two became a part of the St Helens community, finding everyone “very friendly and welcoming”.

“We have made friends in the community by joining local clubs,” she said. “One of our first friends was the [postman], because we had so much delivered in the first few months that we were

seeing him on a daily basis.”

Despite living in Tasmania for close to a year, Ms Thompson said they had been so busy with the motel that they had little chance to see much of the state.

“However, this will change soon,” she said.

“Now that a lot of the initial work has been done, we can start taking a few days off here and there.

“One of my favourite places around here is Sloop Reef.

“There is tiny little beach there and most days you can have the place all to yourself.

“We have a list of places to see, and it's fairly sizeable.”

Ms Thompson said neither her nor Mr Harbison had plans to leave Tasmania anytime soon.

“Neither Gary nor myself would go back to living on the mainland,” she said. 

ShareFacebookTwitterWhatsappEmailCopyKasey WilkinsEducation ReporterKasey Wilkins is education reporter at The Examiner, and also covers the East Coast. Get in touch at

[email protected] Wilkins is education reporter at The Examiner, and also covers the East Coast. Get in touch at [email protected] from Local News'Hard to

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